Like Whitebeard, Rayleigh had stood at the pinnacle of the world in the previous era! But the Roger Pirates' disbandment and the dawn of a new era had clearly made him let down his guard.
He was like a master who had retreated deep into the mountains, sitting in a pavilion or thatched hut, watching the clouds come and go while discussing heroes past and present.
Put simply, he had gone soft.
The world had advanced and its limits had risen, but Rayleigh was still the same Rayleigh.
In fact, after a string of setbacks, he was worse off than before. Age had sapped his strength, along with the energy and drive of his youth. Loa could give the Rayleigh of today only one assessment.
Not up to the task!
So Loa decided to let him enjoy his retirement in peace and leave it at that.
Loa didn't know exactly how powerful Ivy was; he couldn't see through her. But back in Between Dreams, his soul alone had possessed the strength of an ordinary adult. What level, then, had Ivy—who was stronger than him—reached?
And what level had Ivy's other half reached, if it housed that kind of power?
The thought alone was terrifying!
I'm strong!
Loa knew that perfectly well. With his Dragon Body fully integrated, he was unquestionably a warrior equipped for the final battle!
Yet Ivy's caution meant that her other half could only be stronger! At the very least, it was Elite Monster level—perhaps even Boss Monster level!
So Loa needed allies, not to challenge everything alone!
Charging in blindly might be admirable, but he couldn't afford to fail!
If Rayleigh wasn't up to the task, then it was time to find the other strong fighters...
While Loa searched the world for teammates, sealed letters reached